Forwarded From: blueskyat_private http://www.wired.com/news/news/politics/story/14537.html Banker Accused of E-Harrassment 8:10am 20.Aug.98.PDT A judge Wednesday ordered a former Smith Barney investment banker to appear in court next month on charges that he harassed top executives at the firm by allegedly sending a series of phony email messages. Michael Lissack, 39, faces eight counts of aggravated harassment. He appeared in court Wednesday and a Manhattan Criminal Court judge set a hearing date for 15 September. According to the Manhattan district attorney, Lissack sent out email using the identity of Sanford Weill, chairman and chief executive officer of the Travelers Group, parent company of Salomon Smith Barney. "The officers of Salomon Smith Barney need your help. A climate of bad ethics and questionable morals has taken over the firm.... The moral compass has gone adrift," the message said. The message asked for responses to be sent to Jim Boshart, a vice chairman at Smith Barney, and gave his private number. Another message Lissack allegedly sent under the name of Jamie Dimon, another Smith Barney executive, read: "Travelers has US$1 million set aside to influence votes on abortion issues. Given the climate of sexual harassment at Smith Barney it will be no surprise to learn that Jamie Dimon doesn't know what to do with this money. Write or call: Let him know what you think!" The responses to Lissack's phony messages "tied up" the telephone lines at Smith Barney, according to prosecutors. Lissack was hired in July 1981 and dismissed in February 1995 after he would not cooperate with an internal investigation. The email messages started in September 1996 and continued until January 1998. In 1995, Lissack asked for US$50 million from Smith Barney before a New York Stock Exchange arbitration panel, while the firm filed a counterclaim seeking $15 million from Lissack. Lissack contended he had been dismissed for blowing the whistle on an alleged Smith Barney practice called "yield-burning" -- overcharging states and localities for federal Treasury bonds they bought when they refinanced older, more expensive debt. Smith Barney denied Lissack's charges and argued he was a disgruntled employee who had waged a campaign to injure the firm's reputation. That case was thrown out. If convicted of the harassment charges, Lissack faces up to one year in prison on each of the eight counts. Michael Schlein, a spokesman for Smith Barney, said he had no comment on the case. -o- Subscribe: mail majordomoat_private with "subscribe isn". Today's ISN Sponsor: Repent Security Incorporated [www.repsec.com]
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